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HMS Undine (N48)
Career Naval Ensign of the United Kingdom
Name: HMS Undine
Builder: Vickers Armstrong, Barrow-in-Furness
Laid down: 19 February 1937
Launched: 5 October 1937
Commissioned: 21 August 1938
Fate: Sunk 7 January 1940
Badge: File:UNDINE badge-1-.jpg
General characteristics
Class & type: British U-class submarine
Displacement: Surfaced - 540 tons standard, 630 tons full load
Submerged - 730 tons
Length: 58.22 m (191.5 ft)
Beam: 4.90 m (16 ft 1 in)
Draught: 4.62 m (15 ft 2 in)
Propulsion: 2 shaft diesel-electric
2 Paxman Ricardo diesel generators + electric motors
615 / 825 hp
Speed: 11.25 knots max surfaced
10 knots max submerged
Complement: 27
Armament: 4 bow internal 21 inch torpedo tubes, 2 external
10 torpedoes
3 anti-aircraft machine guns

HMS Undine was a British U-class submarine built by Vickers Armstrong, Barrow-in-Furness. She was laid down on 19 February 1937 and was commissioned on 21 August 1938. She was the lead ship of the first group of the U class, which is sometimes called the Undine class.

Sinking[]

Undine was on her fourth war patrol in January 1940 when her sonar failed due to a leak. At 0940 on 7 January, she sighted what was thought to be three trawlers 20 miles west of Heligoland; but were in fact the German auxiliary minesweepers M-1201, M-1204 and M-1207. She unsuccessfully attacked the leading vessel, but the minesweepers counter attacked and forced her to dive. Undine was at 50 feet and proceeding blind due to the loss of sonar. After five minutes with no further attacks, she raised her periscope. As she did so, an explosion shook the submarine, blowing her upwards and rendering the hydroplanes useless. Without the use of the hydroplanes, escape would have been impossible and the order to abandon ship was given. Whilst the crew entered the water, to be picked up by the minesweepers, Undine was scuttled.[1][2]

See also[]

Notes[]

  1. Submarine losses 1904 to present day, RN Submarine Museum, Gosport
  2. HMS Undine, Uboot.net

References[]

Coordinates: 54°5′53″N 7°24′17″E / 54.09806°N 7.40472°E / 54.09806; 7.40472


All or a portion of this article consists of text from Wikipedia, and is therefore Creative Commons Licensed under GFDL.
The original article can be found at HMS Undine (N48) and the edit history here.
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